Texas, the second-largest state in the United States, is home to some of the most massive private ranches in the world, as seen in the map above.
These sprawling properties represent not just impressive acreage, but centuries of American history, agricultural innovation, and the enduring spirit of the frontier.
The Undisputed Champion: King Ranch
At 825,000 acres, King Ranch stands as the largest private ranch in Texas and one of the largest in the world.
Founded in 1853 by Captain Richard King, this South Texas empire is larger than the entire state of Rhode Island and more than three times the size of all six European microstates combined.
The ranch spans parts of six Texas counties: most of Kleberg, much of Kenedy, and portions of Brooks, Jim Wells, Nueces, and Willacy counties.
What began as a creek-fed oasis in the Wild Horse Desert has grown into a modern agricultural powerhouse that continues to innovate in cattle breeding, land management, and conservation.
The Contenders: Texas’s Other Ranch Giants
The competition for Texas’s largest ranches is fierce, with several properties exceeding half a million acres.
Briscoe Ranch (640,000 acres)
Founded in 1910 by Dolph Briscoe Senior near Uvalde, Texas, this ranch was later expanded by his son Dolph Briscoe Jr., who would become the 41st Governor of Texas.
Waggoner Ranch (535,000 acres)
Known as the largest ranch in Texas under one fence, the Waggoner Ranch consists of approximately 535,000 acres. Founded in 1849 by Dan Waggoner and expanded by his son W.T. Waggoner, it spans six counties and includes oil fields and farmland.
O’Connor Ranch (500,000 acres)
This historic South Texas ranch represents one of the state’s most significant private holdings, though some of its claims remain difficult to map precisely.
The Modern Ranch Landscape
Beyond the half-million-acre giants, Texas hosts dozens of ranches exceeding 100,000 acres.
Notable properties include the Brewster Ranch (424,000 acres), the famous 6666 Ranch (275,000 acres) featured in the Yellowstone television series, and even Jeff Bezos’ Corn Ranch (185,472 acres) used for his Blue Origin space ventures.
Historical Significance & Legacy
These massive ranches represent more than just impressive real estate holdings. King Ranch, for example, once included 1.2 million acres at its largest, demonstrating how these properties have evolved over time through consolidation, sales, and strategic management.
The ranches have shaped Texas’s identity, economy, and culture for over 170 years. They’ve pioneered cattle breeding techniques, contributed to oil and gas development, and maintained vast wildlife habitats.
Many continue to operate as working ranches while adapting to modern agricultural practices and conservation efforts.
A Concentration Of Land
The scale of these properties raises interesting questions about land concentration in America. The top 25 private ranches in Texas control over 4.5 million acres combined—an area larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island together. This represents a significant portion of the state’s private land in the hands of relatively few owners.
Whether viewed as impressive agricultural enterprises, historical landmarks, or economic powerhouses, Texas’s largest private ranches remain monuments to the state’s ranching heritage and the enduring appeal of the American frontier spirit.
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